Tibet

Emperor Li Longji had two imperial studies for handling court affairs. One was located behind the Ziwei Hall, which was called the outer imperial study, and the other was located in the Linde Hall of the inner palace, which was called the inner imperial study.

Three years after leaving Tianbao, Li Longji gradually indulged in entertainment and pleasure. In the spring and autumn, he hung out with Yang Guifei in the pear garden, indulged in music and opera, moved to Xingqing Palace to enjoy the snow in winter, and went to Qujiang Pool to escape the heat in summer.

But occasionally he would appear in the Linde Hall and listen to Gao Lishi reporting to him some important military and state affairs.

But no matter what, Li Longji still has several major issues that he will not let go of. One is the surveillance of the prince, the other is the control of military power, and the other is important personnel power.

Especially regarding personnel power, high-ranking officials of the third rank and above are appointed by the emperor, those below the third rank and above the fifth rank are appointed by the prime minister, and those below the fifth rank are appointed by the Ministry of Personnel.

So Li Linfu appointed Wei Jiansu as the Minister of Civil Affairs. Although Li Longji was very angry, he had no choice. The Minister of Civil Affairs was a fourth-rank court official and fell within the prime minister's appointment authority.

It was not until Emperor Daizong Li Yu of the Tang Dynasty ascended the throne that he promoted all his officials to one level, and the minister became a third-rank official. He used this method to expand the monarch's power.

Of course, Li Longji also has his own methods. If you don't do what I want, then I will change the situation.

Therefore, the rise and fall of the Mid-Tang Dynasty is related to Li Longji's character. When he was young, he was broad-minded and tolerant, and famous figures like Yao Chong, Song Jing, Zhang Shuo, and Zhang Jiuling would appear. However, in his later years, Li Longji became suspicious. The heavier the heart, the narrower the mind.

Especially since the founding of the Tang Dynasty, most emperors' rise to power began with palace coups. At this time, Li Longji became more and more resentful of the prime minister who dared to resist him. He began to use prime ministers who could follow his wishes and ensure his throne. Li Linfu thus replaced Zhang Jiuling. Ascend.

In the twenty-fifth year of Kaiyuan, Prince Li Ying was executed, in the fifth year of Tianbao, the case of Wei Jian, and in the sixth year of Tianbao, Li Linfu launched three major cases, firmly consolidating the throne of Emperor Li Longji.

The reason why Li Linfu could hold the position of prime minister for nearly two decades was largely because he catered to Li Longji's wishes in handling government affairs and appointing senior officials.

Therefore, Li Linfu never appointed officials directly. He always wrote suggestions first and submitted them to the ban. After the emperor approved the suggestions, he appointed them again.

Li Longji spent most of his time indulging in romantic affairs, so the right to approve various suggestions fell in the hands of Gao Lishi. This is also the reason why Gao Lishi has so much power. After Tianbao, he will basically act as the emperor. .

And Li Linfu also has his shrewdness. Although it is just a suggestion, he will do his homework well. For example, when Wei Jiansu was appointed as the Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, he wrote down all aspects, leaving Li Longji irrefutable and could only appoint Wei Jiansu. He had always been the Minister of Civil Affairs and had blocked Yang Guozhong's position in advance.

This can be said to be Li Linfu's intention to fight against the emperor on one of the rare occasions. He was also forced into a corner. Yang Guozhong was appointed as the Minister of Civil Affairs, Yang Wei was appointed as the Minister of Hubu, and the consort Yang Qi was appointed as the Superintendent of the Taifu Temple. Control, he, Li Linfu, is a short-term prime minister.

Li Longji also knew it well. He was angry and warned, but he did not dismiss Li Linfu as prime minister. Of course, this was also the result of Gao Lishi's persuasion, "The Yang family is in power and it is not good for the country." ’

The next morning, Gao Lishi hurriedly walked into the study room of Linde Hall. A young eunuch whispered in a trembling voice: "I'm sorry, the Holy One is so angry that he broke two inkstones!"

Gao Lishi nodded, of course he knew why the sage was angry. Li Linfu attacked at the critical moment, causing the sage's plan to appoint Yu Wenjing as prime minister to fail.

When Gao Lishi walked into the imperial study, he saw ink stains and debris all over the floor. Emperor Li Longji stood in front of the window with his hands behind his hands, and he could see the anger in his heart.

Gao Lishi turned around and waved to several young eunuchs, who quickly picked up the debris on the floor and quietly closed the door.

"Li Linfu bullied me too much!" Li Longji looked out the window and said angrily.

"Your Majesty, I would like to be honest with you, my Majesty. There is indeed something wrong with Your Majesty's consideration of Yu Wenjing this time!"

The same words were different from Gao Lishi's mouth. Li Longji could listen to a few words of Gao Lishi's persuasion.

Li Longji glanced at Gao Lishi and said, "I remember you told me about Yu Wenjing's grandson's evil deeds?"

"Yes! At that time, Yu Wenjing's grandson entangled with a group of evil young men and tortured the women in the church. The old slave gave Yu Wenjing a serious warning, and he broke his grandson's legs."

"Then what?"

"Then after Yu Wenjing's grandson's leg healed, he entered the palace and became a guard, but he did even more evil!"

Li Longji frowned, "What do you mean?"

"Reporting to your majesty, the supervisory censor Ji Wen just told me that Cui Jiaju, the head of the bodyguard, exposed that Yu Wenjing's grandson had an affair with the palace concubine while on duty at night!"

"What?"

Li Longji's eyes suddenly widened, shocked and angry, "He is so brave, how dare he touch my woman? Who is he having an affair with?"

Gao Lishi handed a list to Li Longji. There were three people in total. Although they were all relatively low-level concubines and concubines, Li Longji had never heard of them and had not been lucky enough to see them, but after all, they were also palace concubines.

Li Longji was so angry that his eyesight turned black. He gritted his teeth and said: "Kill all three of them with sticks, and all their families will be sent to Yunnan!"

At this moment, Li Longji suddenly began to hate Yu Wenjing. He raised a bad grandson who not only harmed the people of Chang'an, but also made him suffer great shame and humiliation.

"How many people know about this?"

"This matter is extremely secretive. Except for Lao Nu, Li Linfu, and Ji Wen, no one else knows about it, not even the censor, the Prime Minister Wang Gong."

Li Longji suddenly realized, "Li Linfu also found out about this matter?"

"Exactly!"

Gao Lishi didn't dare to hide it. Now that he's hiding it, once the Holy Spirit reacts, he will lose trust.

"Reporting to your majesty, Yu Wenjing hates Li Linfu deeply. Once he becomes the prime minister, he will definitely target Li Linfu like a mad dog. Li Linfu does not want to face this situation and will inevitably protect himself. Your majesty, this is human nature!"

"It's just a common act of a human being, and I would like to invite you to see Li Linfu!"

After a pause, Li Longji said coldly: "All the insiders among the guards were executed secretly, including the chief Cui Jiaju!"

Not long after, Li Linfu hurried to the imperial study, bowed and saluted, "I am here to see you, Your Majesty!"

Li Longji glanced at him and said, "Does Li Xiangguo and Yu Wenjing have any personal grudges?"

"Reporting to your majesty, Yu Wenjing was originally Wei Chen's in-laws. Because when they divorced, the two families were very unhappy, but there was no personal grudge. Yu Wen Rong had a favor to Wei Chen back then. Compared with the old kindness, this is not pleasant. It’s nothing!”

"Today Yu Wenjing has two scandals in a row, so what does it matter? Do you dare to say that this is not what you meant?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, there are actually many scandals about Yu Wenjing. Seeing that he is about to retire, the ministers turned a blind eye to him because of their past friendship. But if Your Majesty appoints him without knowing it, If he becomes the prime minister, then the minister has neglected his duty, so the minister must fulfill his duties faithfully and present the true side of Yu Wenjing to His Majesty."

What Li Linfu said was reasonable and reasonable. The key is that Yu Wenjing's scandal is not new now, it has been around for a long time. It's just that the emperor Li Longji didn't know about it.

"How did you know that I was going to appoint Yu Wenjing as prime minister?"

"Wei Chen doesn't know. Wei Chen has just screened out all the qualified people, including Yu Wenjing, Yuan Yuan, Xian Yu Zhongtong, Zhang Qiqiu, Han Xiulin, etc. Wei Chen will collect their strengths, weaknesses and hidden scandals. , and present it to His Majesty for your reference. This is the duty of a minister."

Li Linfu took out a booklet from his sleeve and presented it to Li Longji, "Here are the resumes and details of the five of them. I have compiled them all. Your Majesty, please take a look!"

Gao Lishi secretly yelled "Beautiful". Now it can't be said that Li Linfu was specifically targeting Yu Wenjing.

Li Longji read the memorial for a moment, then his tone softened slightly, and then said: "It's good that the Prime Minister insists on his duties. The Prime Minister just said that Yu Wenjing has a bigger scandal. What is it?"

"Actually, it's not a scandal. Wei Chen just heard that the Yuwen family has a Golden Deer Manor in Linfen County, Hedong Province, and a large number of soldiers are hidden in the manor."

Li Longji's face sank, "Is the news true?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, this news was leaked by Yu Wen Siwu while he was drinking with his friends. When the Yu Wen Siwu incident happened, his friends reported him one after another, including this news."

Li Longji took a few steps with his hands behind his back and said to Gao Lishi: "Summon Wang Sili to see you immediately!"

Gao Lishi immediately went to announce the call, and Li Longji said to Li Linfu: "I know people, faces, but not hearts. I have been in the palace for a long time, and I know nothing about many things outside. This time, thanks to Li Xiangguo's timely advice, I was able to No mistake made!”

With the emperor's words, Li Linfu knew that he had succeeded in blocking Yu Wenjing. He quickly bowed and said: "The duty of a humble minister is to assist your majesty. If you know but don't say anything, you are derelict in your duty."

"well said!"

Li Longji nodded and smiled: "How is your grandson doing? I heard that he is studying in Taixue?"

"Reporting to your majesty, he is studying the language and customs of the Western Regions at Taixue. He wants to go to the Western Regions and experience the thousands of miles of rivers and mountains of the Tang Dynasty. The ministers also support him."

Li Longji chuckled and said: "Lingsun performed so well in Shuofang. I believe he will also make great achievements in the Western Regions. Before he leaves, you take him into the palace. I want to see him."

"I would like to thank Your Majesty for your great love on behalf of my grandson!"

At this time, Gao Lishi came in with Wang Sili. Wang Sili knelt down on one knee and saluted, "I am here to see you, Your Majesty!"

Li Longji said coldly: "You personally lead a thousand dragon warriors to Linfen County in the east of Hedong. There is a Golden Deer Manor there. It is rumored that there are a large number of soldiers hidden in the manor. Dig three feet into the ground for me and search carefully!"

Wang Sili cupped his fists and said, "I obey the order!"